Winner Of Eurovision Ukraine, Jamala Enters Russia's DPO

JAKARTA - Russia included Ukrainian singer Jamala, who won the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest on the DPO (wanted list).

Jamala whose real name is Susana Alimivna Jamala Marijuana is listed as a fugitive for violating criminal law in the database of the Ministry of Home Affairs (via AP News).

He is allegedly charged with spreading false information about the Russian military and ongoing fighting in Ukraine after a law banning it was passed last year.

Jamala won a singing contest in 2016 with her 1944 song, titled after the year when the Soviet Union deported Tatar Crimea, an annexation largely considered invalid by other countries that still see Crimea as Ukrainian territory nearly two years after Russia annexed Crimea, according to Pitchfork.

The 1944 song depicts the suffering his ancestors experienced during deportation under the regime of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin, which caused further tensions with Russia.

Based on AP News, Russia protested against the song not to be allowed in the competition, saying the song violated the rules of Eurovision's political speech. The song can be included in the competition for not criticizing Russia or the Soviet Union, although it has implications.

Pieces of the song's lyrics include: When strangeers are coming/they come to your house/they kill you all and say/We're not guilty'.

In 2022, Russia was barred from competing in the Eurovision Song Contest that year, following a backlash against a statement saying the country would be allowed to compete despite launching a military offensive on Ukraine.

Ukraine cut diplomatic ties with Russia and declared martial law after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an attack on his neighboring country on February 24, 2022.

Later that year, Jamala appeared at the 'Concert for Ukraine' event and performed the 1944 song.

He performed an emotional performance of Eurovision's winning song holding the Ukrainian flag. At the end of the event, Jamala raised her flag high and conveyed a message of support to her country of origin.